Phuket Steps Up Fight Against Illegal Timeshare Touts

[webfact]

Phuket steps up fight against illegal timeshare touts

The government sign in Patong, on Phuket's west coast, warning tourists

about dodgy timeshare schemes.

Patong Mayor Pian Keesin called for officials to be investigated.

PHUKET: -- A multi-agency task force will be set up to investigate timeshare companies operating in Phuket, especially Patong.

Tasked with investigating the companies, their workers and any officials involved in allowing the timeshare companies to operate, the “committee” is expected to launch an investigation by October, just before the annual tourism high season begins, Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak announced.

The committee will comprise officials from agencies including the Tourist Police, Royal Thai Police, Provincial Police, Public Prosecutor’s Office, Provincial Office and Patong Municipality.

“It’s a big problem. Tourists book holidays with timeshare companies, but when they arrive in Patong, the companies don’t have any hotel rooms for them to stay in. That is destroying our tourism reputation,” said V/Gov Somkiet.

Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukkaban identified three types of timeshare companies operating on the island.

“There are genuine timeshare companies that are registered and have their own offices, such as the operation run at the JW Marriott [Resort & Spa in Mai Khao]

“But there are also people who rent hotels and properties for only a couple of years, but then offer clients use of the properties over 10 to 30 years. That’s cheating,” Mr Chairat said.

“Third are companies that don’t have anything at all, but they tell their clients that they have got everything for them,” he added.

“Many of these operators set up companies and ‘sell’ anything they can, making anywhere from 100 to 500 million baht. They then close their companies and run away.

“Later they open a new timeshare company, because it is easy to open such companies in Thailand, and cheat people all over again. It is damaging our tourism,” he added.

Deputy Mayor Chairat called on other government departments to help clamp down on illegal operators.

“Before issuing any work permits for such companies, the Department of Employment needs to look in detail at such operators, such as checking whether they have their own properties and offices,” he said.

Supporting Patong Mayor Pian Keesin’s call for the committee to also investigate officials, V/Gov Somkiet warned that any officials found to be involved in any illegal timeshare operations will be reported to their office chief.

Also, timeshare cheats were not only affecting foreign tourists, V/Gov Somkiet added.

“About 30 Thai people filed complaints at the Damrongtham Center. They said a well-known company in Thalang had cheated them of about 80,000 to 100,000 baht each.

“When they got to the hotels where they had paid to stay, there were no rooms for them,” he said.

The meeting on Tuesday was called after Patong business owners filed complaints to the Damrongtham Center.

The complaints alleged that more than 100 foreign workers were on the streets of Patong selling timeshare without work permits.

The complaints, filed with details and photographs, explained that timeshare workers continually rode motorbikes around Patong looking for potential “customers” and they stopped mid-traffic to pitch their sales.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-06-02

[slapout]

Those pesky foreigners are up to another scam??? Wonder if they have mistaken the culprits for the working girls or visa versa? Customers of both seem to get a f..king.

[jumak]

About time the authorities investigated these rip-off merchants in time share. The way these unscrupulous touts working illegally without work permits in Patong hassle and scam naive and unsuspecting tourists is an absolute disgrace

[Maipenrai007]

About time the authorities investigated these rip-off merchants in time share. The way these unscrupulous touts working illegally without work permits in Patong hassle and scam naive and unsuspecting tourists is an absolute disgrace

100% Agreed!

[Boatman]

My confidence in Thailand protecting my interests has been restored ! Now, can they help get my barfines returned for bad performers ?

[kevbap]

POINT 1....

Patong Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukkaban identified three types of timeshare companies operating on the island.

“There are genuine timeshare companies that are registered and have their own offices, such as the operation run at the JW Marriott [Resort & Spa in Mai Khao]

and which are the other 2 types, or cant you mention them? name and shame? Nice back hander from Mr Marriott?

POINT 2...

The complaints alleged that more than 100 foreign workers were on the streets of Patong selling timeshare without work permits.

They sell it on the street? how? where?

POINT 3...

“Before issuing any work permits for such companies, the Department of Employment needs to look in detail at such operators, such as checking whether they have their own properties and offices,” he said.

is that not a part of gaining a 'work permit' ???? im very confused !

POINT 4...

The complaints, filed with details and photographs, explained that timeshare workers continually rode motorbikes around Patong looking for potential “customers” and they stopped mid-traffic to pitch their sales.

songthews, tuk tuks, taxis.......dont do this????

i love Thailand but get rather tired of bad, misleading posts/journalism such as this !

Edited June 3, 2011 by kevbap

[steveyinasia]

Looks like it crackdown week in Thai..yesterday it was Illegal musicians.....

[BigC]

i am very happy to see this. I hope they do this in other parts of thaialand also. like samui. they are everywhere

[KarenBravo]

I can't help but think they are just picking an easy target that doesn't have any real "power", unlike the tuk-tuks and jet-ski scam artists.

Then saying "look at us, see, we do care about tourists and our international image".

Course......they're not fooling anyone. Typical Thai face-saving exercise.

[khaowong1]

My confidence in Thailand protecting my interests has been restored ! Now, can they help get my barfines returned for bad performers ?

[ESB7]

About time the authorities investigated these rip-off merchants in time share. The way these unscrupulous touts working illegally without work permits in Patong hassle and scam naive and unsuspecting tourists is an absolute disgrace

100% Agreed!

I assume you both either work or have close friends/relatives that work at the labour office that can confirm your statements..................probably not, so it may come as a shock to you that timeshare companies provide work permits for their foreign employees

[khaowong1]

It appears that if the Thai govt. can't really fix the problem or don't want to because of future benefits to be received, they instead have another CRACKDOWN.

[stacker10]

they forget to pay him tea money for sure, How about a-hole jetski? how about a-holes tuktuk?200b for 150 meters? thats is more importent, sure they have to check timeshare companys, I know they pay a lot to the police to be left alone(use to work timeshare) all bullshit as always.

[grantbkk]

So while foreign customers are making their holiday reservations now for high season there is no investigation into this illegal activity? Why? A task force could be up and running by Monday if this was serious. Another government hack gives his twice a year anti-crime speech or press release. Job done.

Edited June 3, 2011 by grantbkk

[sirchai]

Looks like it crackdown week in Thai..yesterday it was Illegal musicians.....

The complaints alleged that more than 100 foreign workers were on the streets of Patong selling timeshare without work permits.

After the Tsunami hit Thailand pretty bad 2004, there were so many specialists from Europe to identify the wrotten bodies. A special unit of Germany's BKA, very familiar doing genetic tests had to stop because they had no work permit. ???????????????

Why can't they just get rid of all those hookers in other tourist destinations like Pattaya? <deleted>'s going on in their brain. Or do they really have one? :jap:

Edited June 3, 2011 by sirchai

[CantSpell]

Biggest Time Share company has a booth inside the Airport at the International arrival Terminal, claiming they are Ministry of Tourism and collect travelers names and hotels so they can phone them in their hotel afterward....

This is a perfectly legal practice I presume...

Or do they pay too much to even be investigated?

[madmitch]

So while foreign customers are making their holiday reservations now for high season there is no investigation into this illegal activity? Why? A task force could be up and running by Monday if this was serious. Another government hack gives his twice a year anti-crime speech or press release. Job done.

Quite right, and for the next few months they will continue unhindered, and with the right money changing hands this will be completely forgotten about by October.

It's a big earner for the Patong/Kathu BIB

[newermonkey]

Generally the Thai people seem to get jelous when Farangs do things better than them in their own country. I think this is no exception.

Farangs are far cleverer at cheating, making money, bullish driving, inventing things (including items that don't exist) talking thair way out of a bad situation, sex, money maters, pretty much everything else.

[stevehaigh]

what happened to the crackdown on crackdowns, guess it went on holiday

[ToffeEFCpower]

“About 30 Thai people filed complaints at the Damrongtham Center. They said a well-known company in Thalang had cheated them of about 80,000 to 100,000 baht each.

“When they got to the hotels where they had paid to stay, there were no rooms for them,” he said.

Thai's do not buy into timeshare, it's not their thing.

If these 30 Thai's actually exist at all then they have been conned by a local travel agent.

[LBD1]

Foreign scammers will get the chop - what about local scammers (jetski Joe and his gang and the tuk-tuk pack)?

Must be erection time.

[ableguy]

Great the ministry of crackdowns strikes again , they must employ thousands

[ableguy]

Generally the Thai people seem to get jelous when Farangs do things better than them in their own country. I think this is no exception.

Farangs are far cleverer at cheating, making money, bullish driving, inventing things (including items that don't exist) talking thair way out of a bad situation, sex, money maters, pretty much everything else.

Only because we are educated ?

[arrowsdawdle]

Generally the Thai people seem to get jelous when Farangs do things better than them in their own country. I think this is no exception.

Farangs are far cleverer at cheating, making money, bullish driving, inventing things (including items that don't exist) talking thair way out of a bad situation, sex, money maters, pretty much everything else.

You forgot soccer. Are there any Thais on the Thai Premier League teams? Plenty of blacks and round-eyes.

Edited June 3, 2011 by arrowsdawdle

[stanley2550]

The Scammers going after the scammers...What an amazing country...Thats like the old say, "The pot calling the kettle blaclk."

My goodness, just think if all the Thais spoke perfect English what they could do in the hands of a foreign scam professional. Wow! Boiler Room, Bucket

Room Paradise!!!!!!!!!!! With the proper training, they could even go after their very own upper class and upper middle class brothers and sisters.

Again, what an amazing country....especially when all the police and other law enforcement people can be bribed!

[stanley2550]

I cannot think of a better comedy Sitcome than Thailand...translated into English...for western audiences. What a circus act!

[Misterwhisper]

Foreign scammers will get the chop - what about local scammers (jetski Joe and his gang and the tuk-tuk pack)?

Must be erection time.

Exactly my thinking. But then again, Thais are entitled to scamming anybody - as long as the victims are foreigners. I mean it's part of the local culture, and how could anyone deny a local to indulge in their culture, right? And who should do it anyway? The BiB? Politicians? They are the blackest sheep of them all!

[As a pre-emptive strike to all those incurable Thai lovers out there who might - as foreigner, no less! - feel offended: This was a SARCASTIC REMARK and NOT an academic assessment of Thai culture. Please kindly note.]

[travelmann]

Generally the Thai people seem to get jelous when Farangs do things better than them in their own country. I think this is no exception.

Farangs are far cleverer at cheating, making money, bullish driving, inventing things (including items that don't exist) talking thair way out of a bad situation, sex, money maters, pretty much everything else.

What tripe every Thai knows they're the greatest nation on earth with the smartest people in the known universe

[cbc]

You forgot soccer. Are there any Thais on the Thai Premier League teams? Plenty of blacks and round-eyes.

Are you jealous because the black's and round eyes have the talent and physical fitness to play soccer professionally.Probably unlike yourself who sits around in the bar's bending the elbow most of if not all of the day.

Edited June 3, 2011 by LivinginKata
flame removed

[chooka]

3 crackdowns against farangs in 2 days. Thais are really picking up the momentum what next a crack down on farangs visiting thailand and then a committee to investigate why tourism is fading